Category Archives: Tactical

Whenever we’re asked to review firearms, we try to stick with the basics: performance, reliability, and safety. A close fourth is price point – because let’s be honest, unless you use it all the time you’re not going to want to sink $2,000 on a shotgun. And if you are one of those people who goes duck hunting with a country club – these 5 shotguns below will be the instruments of war that bring the aww back in awesome.

SPECIAL NOTE: Don’t worry folks — we got MORE TACTICAL SHOTGUN options coming your way! Due to popular demand, we’re continuing to show you the very best tactical shotguns out on the market. Never fear and check back often!

For this list, we’re just focusing on 12 gauge tactical shotguns. Most of these are offered in smaller gauges (20, 410) but it’s up to you to determine availability in your area.

Tactical Shotgun #1: Saiga-12

IZHMASH Saiga-12 – Photo courtesy of wikipedia

The Saiga-12 manufactured by Izhmash is perhaps one of the most brutal semi-automatic shotguns to date. Using the same configuration and lower receiver as the AK-47, it can be chambered in anything from 12 gauge to 410. Magazine capacity is generally limited. In the 12 gauge model, it comes with a capacity to hold 5 shells, with magazines available which extend this to 10, 12, and even 25 (cannister).

PROS: Brutal semi-automatic action mixed with the versatility of 12 gauge double-ought or solid slug ammo. This is a ruthless close to medium range tactical shotgun.CONS: The Saiga-12 can sometimes have issues feeding different shell sizes. It seems to prefer double-ought and similar — it doesn’t like alternating in between quail shot and solid slug.MSRP: $950.00Restrictions: Russia is presently a banned importer so the supply of Izhmash Saiga-12s is limited. Check out Century Arms for ancillaries.

Tactical Shotgun #2: Benelli M2 Tactical

This is a bank buster in terms of semi-automatic capabilities but absolute sleuth in terms of price point. Benelli really put a lot of emphasis in recoil compensation in this model. With a shorter 18.5″ barrel, it’s definitely good for doorways and narrow corridors.

Tactical Shotgun #3: FN Herstal SLP Tactical

Fabrique Nationale offers a fantastic semi-automatic shotgun with 8 round internal capacity. This is ideal for people expecting to encounter a variety of dangerous circumstances.

PROS: If you have to pick just one shotgun for both tactical and sporting purposes – this is the ideal.CONS: Longer barrel (22″).MSRP: $1,000.00

Tactical Shotgun #4: Kel Tec KSG

Extremely high ammunition holding capacity – 14+1 – the Kel-Tec KSG shines when it comes to close range shotgun training.PROS: Extreme close range and medium range capabilities – ideal for home-defense.CONS: Absolutely worthless out in an open field. Definitely useless for hunting game.MSRP: $800.00

Tactical Shotgun #5: Benelli Super Black Eagle II

This is more for the sportsmen turned Mad Max. The Benelli Super Black Eagle II is a semi-automatic shotgun with 3 rounds of capacity plus one in the chamber. For tactical situations, it has limited application but out in a woodland environment or wilderness – it’s ideal.PROS: All terrain capabilities.CONS: Limited ammunition capacity.MSRP: $1,400.00

Tactical Shotgun #9: Kral Silver Eagle 12ga

The Silver Eagle is produced by a small Turkish firm but the golden egg for this semi-auto is its interchangeable barrels – 28″ and 20″. The 28″ is definitely great for the sportsman out in the wilderness but the 20″ is ideal for firing slugs and home-defense rounds. It’s a one size-fits-all approach to shotguns.PROS: Good construction, reliable.CONS: Not very well known.MSRP: $300.00

Almost any gun owner relishes in the thought of getting the drop on an opponent at 20 feet. At 20 feet, it’s almost guaranteed bullets will hit target. However, what happens when the tables are turned? Not all attackers wander right into the open and wait.

Close quarters is generally the weakest place for a concealed or open handgun carrier to get caught. Not only is there the issue of drawing, there’s the risk of having the firearm taken away. This is why close quarters drills are some of the most important techniques to practice for an open or concealed pistol carrier.

The priorities of movement will always push towards:

Breaking contact

Creating space

Redirecting your opponent away from your firearm

Pressing initiative

Breaking Contact

This is also essential. Unless you are confident you can subdue your opponent without needing to draw your firearm, you need to take every opportunity to break contact and to create space.

Creating Space

This is a very dangerous game. You need room in order to draw. If your opponent has made it into close quarters and has his hands on you, you need to break contact to create that space. That opens you up to more damage.

Space is necessary to get the muzzle of your firearm safely onto target. You don’t need to draw all the way out as if you were aiming at a paper target – just enough to get the muzzle onto your opponent.

And anywhere will do! Legs, feet, hands, arms – as long as the muzzle has crossed that point, you’re good to go. Even a shot to the extremities can give you enough time to create space and gain the advantage.

Redirecting Your Attacker

If breaking contact and creating space just isn’t possible, you need to redirect your attacker away from your firearm. If you’re a concealed carrier, he may not even know you’re armed. If you’re an open carrier, it’s all the more important that he doesn’t gain access over the handle or trigger group.

If you can, grab hold of an ear, nose or any exposed soft tissue on the face. A person’s instincts are to preserve their face and head before anything else. Once an ear is in grasp, tear it off. It only takes five pounds of pressure to rip an ear right off the head of man – and this is more than enough pain and misery to redirect his attention. Slam your hand into that wound as much as possible until you’re able to create space – then use your firearm to do the rest.

Pressing Initiative

Once you gain the advantage in a close quarters situation – always press the advantage. Never doubt that if the tables were turned, your attacker would gladly do the same. A moment of panic, hesitation, or fear is ammunition that can and will be used equally depending upon who’s aware.

No matter what you do, maintain control over your firearm at all times. Your firearm is your lifeline and it will be used against you if it falls in the hands of your attacker.

In this part one of an instructional/discussion video, DIY veteran (and former Marine) USMCDoc discusses the illustrious process of building an AK-47 variant from scratch. In it, he dispels the myths, the rumors, and the horse crap in favor of pointing out the important whys for each type of build.

This is a multi-part series, so be prepared for several hours of mostly discussion with some actual show-and-tell. If you’re serious about building an AK-47 variant from scratch, then you have every reason in the world to watch this series from start to finish and follow his advice. However, if you’re looking for a down and dirty – check out the video right below this paragraph.

The Blank Receiver

Before you really can go anywhere with an AK-47 variant build, you’re going to need to machine the receiver. Now, before you do this – check with YOUR state and localities laws. If you EVER want to sell or transfer this item, you will have to go through the FFL process with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.

If you decide you want to make the trigger housing group fully automatic or selective firing, you’re going to need an NFA. That’s also non-negotiable in terms of federal law. So, when you are building your AK-47 variant, keep all those things in mind.

Why Is A Homemade AK-47 Variant So Essential?

The AK-47 is one of the most reliable and easily fabricated semi-automatic rifles in existence. It’s main competitor, at the time, was the FAL equivalent which was adopted by many NATO partners. The FAL is complete horse rubbish. It’s not very hardy and it’s much more difficult to operate than most AK-47 variants.

And the other major competitor (at the hayday of AK-47 manufacturing) was the CAR-15 (AR-15, civilian equivalent; M-16A2, military equivalent). The CAR-15 is indisputably one of the best medium range battle rifles on the planet. It uses a smaller bullet size (5.56 mm) than the AK-47 (7.62x39mm) and – with only iron sights and some windage – can reach out and touch someone at 500 yds. What’s not to love?

AR-15s are SEVERELYoverpriced and their stock Mil Spec parts can sometimes be garbage.

There is literally no reason on this planet stock AR-15s should be this expensive.

Soooo… You can either spend $1300-1500 building an AR-15 from parts the right way or $850 stock base. From the $850 base model, most AR-15 owners who actually intend to use their AR-15 at the range and as a home-defense weapon, will spend upwards of $1,200 upgrading that rifle through after-market parts.

Screw all that. An AK-47 built from the bottom up will serve you just as well – if not better. You can still add all the bells and whistles that make the rifle “tacticool” while actually being just as effective (if not more so) than a tricked out AR-15 variant.

So, building an AK-47 from the ground up is a fraction of the cost of doing the same with an AR-15 and can accompany all the tricks and ponies every mean motherjammer wants with his rifle.